Echeveria Plant Named &#39;OVPEARLS05&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Echeveria plant named ‘OVPEARLS05’ which is characterized by an abundance of dark greyed-green and heavily glaucescent foliage which is tightly held in a basal rosette, foliage which is conspicuously margined greyed-purple along the distal margins and apex and heavily suffused with greyed-purple at and towards the apex of the abaxial foliar surface. The new variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2019/3110, filed on Nov. 27, 2019, which is herein incorporated by reference.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Echeveria pulidonis.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Echeveria disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘OVPEARLS05’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘OVPEARLS05’ is a naturally-occurring, whole-plant mutation of an unnamed Echeveria pulidonis plant (not patented) which was discovered by the inventor in March of 2009 at a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. The mutation was noted for its abundance of dark greyed-green, glaucous foliage with conspicuous dark red margins.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘OVPEARLS05’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated in March of 2009 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Through eight subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘OVPEARLS05’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘OVPEARLS05’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘OVPEARLS05’ as a new and distinct Echeveria cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘OVPEARLS05’ exhibits a globular plant form with an abundance         of foliage tightly held in a basal rosette; and     -   2. ‘OVPEARLS05’ exhibits dark greyed-green, heavily glaucescent         foliage; and     -   3. ‘OVPEARLS05’ exhibits foliage which is conspicuously margined         greyed-purple, generally appearing as a dark red coloration         along the distal margins and apex; and     -   4. ‘OVPEARLS05’ exhibits heavy suffusion of greyed-purple at and         towards the apex of the abaxial foliar surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘OVPEARLS05’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 1 year old, shown planted in a 12 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage arrangement of ‘OVPEARLS05’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘OVPEARLS05’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘OVPEARLS05’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in November of 2019 describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 1 year old ‘OVPEARLS05’ plants grown in 12 cm nursery containers at commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Echeveria which consisted of minimal subsurface irrigation, fertilizer applications, and chemical pest control measures against thrips as required. No other chemical pest and disease control measures were taken. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percent shade after propagation and later exposed to full sun once they began to mature. No photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘OVPEARLS05’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘OVPEARLS05’ and a comparison with the parent and closest known comparator is provided below.

-   Plant Description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a             compact, non-branched basal rosette.         -   Plant form.—Globular.         -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—5.0 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Average of 15.7 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting             — Approximately 5 weeks at an approximate temperature of 21             degrees Celsius. Crop time — Approximately 1 year to produce             a marketable plant in a 12 cm container.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither             resistance nor susceptibility to typical Echeveria pests and             diseases has been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10             to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;             moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once             established; high tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—No stems or branches; leaves arranged in a             basal rosette. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 92 leaves per rosette.         -   Shape.—Narrow obovate to broad oblanceolate.         -   Dimensions.—7.4 cm long, 2.1 cm wide, and 0.75 cm thick, on             average.         -   Aspect.—Very slightly concave; distal portion of the leaf is             curled upward at an approximate angle of 40 degrees to the             proximal portion of the leaf.         -   Attitude.—Foliage is held upright and outward at and near             the center of the rosette and becomes progressively more             relaxed towards the outer whorls of foliage.         -   Apex.—Abruptly acute.         -   Base.—Long cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire; not undulated.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the adaxial             surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and strongly glaucescent.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the abaxial             surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and strongly glaucescent.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Greyed-green,             nearest to RHS 191A, and fading to yellow-green towards the             base, nearest to RHS 145C; margined greyed-green, nearest to             RHS 193D, and becoming margined with greyed-purple towards             and at the apex, nearest to RHS 183B. Leaves are covered             with a thin layer of epicuticular wax which is colored             greyed-green, nearest to in between RHS 188A and 188B.             Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Greyed-green, nearest to             RHS 191 B, and fading lighter towards the base, nearest to             RHS 193B; margined greyed-green, nearest to in between RHS             193C and 193D, and becoming margined with greyed-purple             towards and at the apex, nearest to RHS 183B. Leaves are             covered with a thin layer of epicuticular wax which is             colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS 188C. Mature foliage,             adaxial surface — Greyed-green, nearest to RHS 191A, and             fading to yellow-green towards the base, nearest to RHS             147D; margined greyed-green, nearest to in between RHS 192A             and 192B, and becoming margined with greyed-purple towards             and at the apex, nearest to RHS N186C. Leaves are covered             with a thin layer of epicuticular wax which is colored             greyed-green, nearest to in between RHS 188A and 1888.             Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Greyed-green, nearest to             RHS 194A, fading to yellow-green towards the base, nearest             to RHS 147D, and becoming heavily suffused with             greyed-purple towards the apex, nearest to in between RHS             183A and N186C; margined greyed-green, nearest to in between             RHS 193C and 193D, and becoming margined with greyed-purple             towards and at the apex, nearest to RHS 186C. Leaves are             covered with a thin layer of epicuticular wax which is             colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS 188C.         -   Venation.—Pattern — No venation is visible. Color, adaxial             surface — No venation is visible. Color, abaxial surface —             No venation is visible.         -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile. -   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date. -   Comparisons with the parent plant:

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVPEARLS05’ differ from the parent, an unnamed Echeveria pulidonis plant (not patented) in the following characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘OVPEARLS05’ The parent. General coloration Greyed-green. Yellow-green. of the mature foliage. Distal portion of Conspicuously margined Less conspicuously the leaf margins. greyed-purple, generally margined red. appearing red. Color suffusion of the Suffused with greyed- Not suffused with abaxial surface of the purple towards and greyed-purple. mature foliage. at the apex.

-   Comparisons with the closest known comparator:

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVPEARLS05’ differ from Echeveria pulidonis ‘AMIECH1602’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,757), which is the closest known comparator, in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘OVPEARLS05’ ‘AMIECH1602’ Abundance of foliage More abundant than Less abundant than ‘AMIECH1602’. ‘OVPEARLS05’ Foliage width. Foliage is narrower than Foliage is wider than ‘AMIECH1602’ ‘OVPEARLS05’. Foliage glaucosity. More strongly Less glaucescent by glaucescent comparison to by comparison to ‘OVPEARLS05’. ‘AMIECH1602’. General coloration A darker shade A lighter shade of the mature foliage. of greyed-green of greyed-green by comparison to by comparison to ‘AMIECH1602’. ‘OVPEARLS05’. Distal portion of Conspicuously margined Margined lighter the leaf margins. greyed-purple, generally greyed-purple to appearing dark red. greyed-red, generally appearing as pink. Color suffusion of the Heavily suffused with Not suffused with abaxial surface of the greyed-purple towards greyed-purple. mature foliage. and at the apex. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Echeveria plant named ‘OVPEARLS05’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 